Farewell, Libertarians

Dear Rutgers Libertarians,

I’m sure it’s already obvious, but I’ll inform you anyway: I am graduating and passing the torch of the club. Really, I would like to say thank you.

You all have made the dream of freedom a reality because you have demanded that your voices be heard. I asked you to come with me on a journey that met resistance by default, yet you were brave. You held steadfast in your critique of a society that has grown increasingly dependent on its government. Your desire for freedom allowed all of us to have an avenue to express our distrust in things that are outside of individual control. You met the scores of naysayers with vigor, and laboriously helped this organization to grow; for this, I can never thank you enough.

I may never take another L or B bus in my life. I may never again be assaulted by the cookie lady at Tillet. I may never again drink 8 red bulls in one day. I may never again witness the fury of a 2 am fat sandwich. I may never again wait on line for an entire night for student tickets to a Louisville football game. I may never again have the honor to be at a place where everyone knows every word to every Bon Jovi song.

But I will always have what you gave me; you instilled in me the fire to understand the world in a new and meaningful way. Most importantly, you gave me the inspiration to counter the masses and make sense of four of the most important years of my life.

I’ll part with some advice from perhaps our last responsible President—a man that receives my (nearly) unparalleled respect:

"This spirit, however, without knowledge, would be little better than a brutal rage. Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write. Let every order and degree among the people rouse their attention and animate their resolution." -John Adams

For those of you who will still be on the banks of the Raritan next year, carry this with you. Always question what is before you. When your freedom is infringed upon, be sure to sound the horn of alarm; let your fellow Rutgers students in on the (not-so) secret that is freedom. Life is too short to accept anything less.

In Liberty,

Josh Hagewood
President, Rutgers Libertarians